Collapsible steel centering



Nov. l2, 1935. J. sARosDY I COLLAPSIBLE STEEL CENTERING Filed Nov. l0, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToR 'l/ /.f 'f To EY L. J. SAROSDY Nov. 12, 1935.

COLLAPS IBLE STEEL CENTERI NG Filed Nov. lO, 1932 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 17.2', 1935 PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE STEEL CENTERING vana Application November 1o, i932, serial No. 641,996 12 claims. (01; :a5-131.6)

My invention pertains to forms for concrete sewer and' tunnel-work and more particularly that type of form which is supported upon a carrier during the expanding and collapsing operation and is supported upon the carrier while being moved to a new location.

An object of my invention is to provide a form which is easily adjusted into collapsed or expanded position.

101" Another object of my invention is to provide a novel means for moving the form to collapsed or expanded position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a form adjusting means which may be operated from a position below the'form and which in the case of telescopic forms can be readily detached l from the form.

l In the drawings forming apart of this description is shown a transverse section-through a sewer 201 orV tunnel with the invert already poured and the arch form in place ready for pouring. In dot' and dash lines the form is shown in collapsed positionready for moving to a new location.

' Fig. 1i ofthe drawings shows the preferred form I ofjtheinven'tion,V illust-rating the collapsing device With the; inner ends mounted in fixed relation tothe carrier; Fig. 2 shows a modification of the invention in which the inner ends of the device are also mounted in fixed relation to the i carrier but a different means is provided for vvaryingthe length of the compression member; Fig. 3 shows in half section another modification of my invention inwhichthe inner end` of the tension member isimounted in'xed'relationto the car- I rier but-:the inner endof the compression member is slidably mounted on the carrier; Fig. 4 shows in half section a carrier and collapsing device similar to that of Fig. v3 with the provision of anti-friction meansbetween the mounting of theA 4D' inner end of the compressionmember and the carrier; Figs. 5 and 6 show in enlargedviews the mountings for the inner ends of the compression members of Figs. 3- and-4.

Infthe-'drawings reference character I-indicates `v an invert'roverwhich a form 2 is placed ready for pouringof the arch. The form is shown supportedvupon a carrier 3- and is braced by suitably placed members Il. Disposed on opposite sidesof the carrierandconnected to the form are mech- 501 anisms for expanding and collapsingl the form.

These-mechanisms also-serve. the purpose of supportingthe' formupon they carrier. Y

vThe form is shownas comprising tWo halves hingedly connected vtogether at` theV topof the 552"V archand having the free ends connected to ther carrier. rThe form may be of any desired contour and can be formed of two or more parts. The particular details of construction may be made to suit the individual need and in the drawings comprises a plurality of arcuate ribs formed of chan- 5 nel shaped members 5 with the ends of the members 5 connected by channel shaped members 6 andV l. The members 5 having one end coped to fit the flanges of the members 6 and the other ends secured to the back` of the Web of the mem- 10 bers 1. A steel lagging 9 is secured to the flanges of the members 5, 6, and 1. The two halves of the form are hinged together by means of the hinges 8 secured to the inner flanges of the members 5. The members 'l serve the purpose of a 15 bearingfor the form when in expanded position.

The carrier 3 comprises a suitably braced construction having a plurality of uprights Iii at each side thereof to which the adjusting mechanism is secured. The carrier is preferably 20 mounted upon wheels II which run upon tracks I2 provided for that purpose.

It is to be understood that the carrier and form may be of any desired lengthwhich is most suitable for the particular structure being poured. 25 In cases Where the forms will be required to move around curves it maybe found advantageous to make the carrier and form in short sections to facilitate movement around the curves. In this event two or more carriers may be coupled to- 80 gether when pour-ing the straight sections and two o r more sections of form may be coupled together by passing bolts through the webs of thel members 5 of two adjacent sections.

On each side of the carrier are mounted a 35y plurality ofadjusting and form supporting means which are pivotally connected to the carrier and adjacent ends of the form. The member I3 is pivotally connectedto the upright I and to a bracket I4 ofthe form. The member I5 is piv- 40 otally connected to the form at the same place asthe member I3` and is-connected to the upright IOin spaced relation to the member I3. The members I3 and I5 thus form a V-shaped supporting and adjusting member for the form 2. 45

In operation the member'l 3 functions as a tension member guiding' the movements of the form and is of' a constant length. The member I5 functions as a compression member and its length varies Vaccording tc whether the form isjbeing collapsedor expanded. To facilitate the changes in le'ngth of the member Ilitiscomprised of: a steamboat ratchet with endportions I5a and |55. Theen'd portion. I5ab is'p'referably bifurcated with the end of the member I3 fitting vwithin the bi- 55 K ,n member I8 and an inner member I9. 4

furcation and permanently secured therein by a ferrule which has its ends flanged outwardly. The apex of the V can then be secured to the member I4 of the form by passing a pin through the bracket I4 and the ferrule. The member I3 is preferably provided at its mid-portion with a turnbuckle so that the V-shaped supporting mechanism may be used upon forms of diiferent diameters or widths.

The operation of the form is as follows: the carrier 3 is assembled upon the tracks I2, the ends .of the V-shaped supporting member are pivotally mounted upon the uprights I0 of the carrier and the apex of the V-sha-ped member is secured to the bracket I4 of the form. These V-shaped members are preferably disposed on opposite sides of the carrier and four or more of such members are used, depending upon the length and weight of the form 2. The ratchet of the member I 5 is then operated to expand the form to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1. The bracing 4 is applied tohelp sustain the form and weight of the concrete to be poured.

After the concrete is set sufficiently to permit stripping of the form, the bracing 4 is removed and the ratchets in the member I5 may be operated to shorten the member I5 to collapse the form into the position shown in dot and dash lines. 'I'he form may then be moved to a new location and there set up.

If desired the form may be made suiciently strong and the bracing 4 so placed that the V- shaped member may be disconnected from the form 2 and another form mounted upon the carrier in the position shown by dot and dash lines.

This collapsed form can then be moved through the forms already in place and set up at the desired location.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings is shown a modification of my invention in which the form 2 is mounted upon a carrier IB by means of a collapsing device comprising a tension member Il and a compression member consisting of an outer The adjacent ends of the members I8 and I9 are pivotally connected, the free end of the member I8 being pivotally connected to the bracket I4 of the form at a common point of attachment with the tension member I'I and the inner end of the member I9 being pivotally mounted to the upright 2I of the carrier I6. Pivotally mounted on the carrier is a member 2| which is also connected to the members I8 and I9. It will be observed that the l member I 1 and the members I8 and I9 form a V-shaped member similar to that formed by the members I3 and I5 in the preferred form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The variations in the effective length of the compound member I8-I9 is obtained by means of v operation of mounting, expanding and collapsing the form as shown in Fig. 2 isrthe same as that used with the form shown in Fig. 1. In this connection it will be observed that there is illustrated by means of dot and dash lines`the position of the form when in collapsed position. It will be obvious that with the form in this collapsed position it may be moved through previously erected and fully expanded forms from which thevshaped members have been disconnected@` Y Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated another modification of my invention in which the compression member is made in one piece and the collapsing and expanding of the form 2 is effected by operation of the ratchet 21 which moves the screw 22 upwardly or downwardly so as to vary the position of the inner end of the compression member 23 to effect the expansion or contraction of the form. The tension member 24 in this modification being l pivotally connected to the carrier and the form. In Fig. 3 of the drawings the bracket supporting the ratchet 2I and screw 22 is fixed in relation to the carrier while the bracket, to which the inner end of the member 23 is secured, is free to l move vertically on the uprights of the carrier simultaneously with the screw 22 to which it is attached.

In the form shown in Fig. 4 the device is in all respects similar to that shown in Fig. 3 with 2 the addition that the bracket 25 to which the inner end of the compression member is attached has mounted thereon rollers 26 which bear against the upright of the carrier and reduce friction as the bracket moves along the upright. 25

In Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the connection between the outer ends of the tension and compression members is so constructed that the V-shaped member formed thereby may be readily removed from the form so as to permit the carrier to be used for 3 supporting and moving additional forms into position.

It will be observed from Figs. 2, 3, and 4 that the previously erected forms may be suitably braced and the carrier having other forms in 3 collapsed position may be moved through the previously erected forms Without interference with the lexpanded forms or the bracing therefor.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 4 Patent is:

1. In combination, a carrier and a collapsible form, means supporting the form upon the carrier, said means comprising a iixed member and a hinged member, said members being pivotally 4 connected together on the form and pivotally mounted in spaced relation on the carrier, and a. member pivotally connected to the carrier and to the joint of the hinged member.

2. In combination, a carrier and a collapsible 5 form, means supporting the form upon the carrier, said means comprising a V-shaped member at each side of the carrier, having its apex pivotally connected to the form and having one leg M of the V movably mounted on the carrier. 55-

3. In combination, a carrier and a collapsible, form, means4 on each side of the carrier for supporting, collapsing and expanding the form upon the carrier, said means comprising a tension member and a telescoping compression member, 6 said-members being pivotally connected together on said form Vand pivotally mounted in fixed spaced relation on said carrier.

fl. In combination, a carrier and a collapsible form, means at each side of the carrier for sup- 6 porting the form upon the carrier, said means comprising a tension member and a hinged compression member, said members being pivotally connected together on the form and pivotally mounted on the carrier.

f 5. In combination, a carrier and a collapsible form, means at each side of the carrier for supporting the form upon the carrier, said means comprising a tension member and a hinged compression member, said members being pivotally i'iwv ofi connected together on the form and pivotally mounted on the carrier, and a tension member connected to the carrier and the joint of the hinged member.

6. In a tunnel and sewer mol-d in combination, a rigid carrier, a form hinged about a medial line,

a device at each side of the carrier forming the' sole support of the forni including a pair of arms each having one end pivoted in spaced relation upon the c-arrier, the opposite ends of the arms being pivotally connected together and to the form, each of said arms of each of said pairs including device for adjustably varying the length of said arm.

7. In a tunnel mold in combination, a rigid carrier including spaced vertical members, a jointed form overlying the top and sides of the carrier, V-shaped means including an adjustable arm at each side of the carrier and secured to the form and vertical carrier members to'provide the sole support for the form, each of said means having its apex secured to the form and and its arms secured in iixed pivotal relation upon the carrier.

8. In a tunnel mold in combination, a rigid carrier, a form including a hinged top connection, a connection between the form and carrier at each side of the carrier including a V-shaped member, one arm of which is adjustable, with the apex of the V connected to the form and the free ends of theV arms secured tothe carrier in fixed spaced relation.

9. In a tunnel and sewer mold, in combination, a rigid carrier, a form hinged about a medial line, means at each side of the carrier forming the sole support for the form, each of said means including a plurality of arms each having one end pivoted in spaced relation upon the carrier, the opposite ends of the arms being pivotally connected to the form on a common longitudinal axis of rotation, at least one of said arms including a device for adjustably varying the length of said arm.

10. In a mold apparatus in combination, a rigid carrier, a form mounted for bodily lateral and collapsing movement about the carrier, pairs oi?V 5 independently adjustable arms at each side of'`l the carrier forming the sole support for the form, one end of each arm being pivotally connected to the carrier and pivot-al connections between each of the other ends of the arms and the form. 10

11. In a mold apparatus in combination, a rigid carrier, a collapsible form, means at each side of the carrier forming the sole support for the form and for expanding and collapsing the form about the carrier, each means including a pair of arms 15 disposed between the carrier and the form, said arms having their inner ends pivotally connected in vertical spaced relation on the carrier, and their outer ends pivotally connected to the form in a manner whereby the lower of the two mem- 20 bers, which is collapsible, is in compression, and the upper member, which is of constant length, is in tension during the expanding and collapsing movement of the form about the ca-rrier.

12. In a tunnel and sewer mold apparatus, in 25 combination, a rigid carrier, a form hinged about a medi-a1 line, means at each side of the carrier forming the sole support for the form and for expanding and collapsing the form about the carrier, each means including a pair of arms dis- 3o posed between the carrier and the form, said arms having their inner ends pivotally connected with the adjacent side of the carrier and in vertical spaced relation, and their outer ends pivotally connected to the form on -a common axis of 35 rotation disposed longitudinally of the form, the lower of said arms having va means associated therewith for imparting collapsing and expanding movement to the form about its hinged connection.

LOUIS J. SAROSDY. 

